Fabric-feeding device for bead-wire-covering machines



April 12,1927. 1,624,544 r C. H. DESAUTELS FABRIC FEEDING DEVICE FOR BEAD WIRE COVERING MACHINES Filed Feb. 10. 1925 INVENTOR ATTOIRNE Patented Apr. 12, 1927.

' UNITED STATES PATENT orrics.

FISK RUBBER COMPANY, OF CHICOPEE OF MASSACHUSETTS.

FABRIC-FEEDIN G DEVICE FOR B Application filed February This invention relates to machines for covering rings, such as the wire anchorages used in automobile tires, with fabric or other material, and has particular reference to improvements on machines such as are shown in my prior application Serial No. 686,4:at0, filed January 15, 192 1. The present improvement has for its main objects the speedy introduction of the fabric strip into the covering device at the start of the operation, the protection of the operator against injury during this step, and the provision of steadier and more eflicient tension during the "entire covering operation. The preferred embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1' is a fragmentary side elevation of amachine of the type shown in my application Serial N 0. 686,440, with the fabric'feeding device forming the present improvement appearing in the position assumed byit during the covering operation;

Fig. 2 is a similar view, minus sundry details, showing the feeding device in the position it occupies during the substitution of an uncovered'for a covered ring;

Fig. 3 is a detail plan of a part of the device;

Fig. 4; is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but with a portion of the guide-block broken away, and with the parts in a different relative position; I

Fig. 6 is a sectional view illustrative of the initiation of the feeding operation;

Fig. 7 is a similar view illustrative of the covering operation; I

Fig. 8 is a section on line.88 of Fig; 6; and

Figs. 9 and 10 are sections on lines 99 and 10-1O of Fig. 7 respectively.

As pointed out in my appliaction above referred to, the ring covering machine forming its subject-matter, and to which the device of the present invention is especially adapted, consists essentially of two drums or rolls 22 and 23, adjacent the surface of the latter of which are positioned g foldin device (Q and a palr of pressing rolleis I'lRTsTrinQ'Feference numerals are here retained as in my other application to facilitate cross-reference. The roll 22 is carried on a movable head 30, preferably controlled FALLS, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION BAD-VIRE-COVERING MACHINES.

10, 1925. Serial No. 8,111.

by an air cylinder (not here shown) to move it toward and from the fixed axis of roll 23. The folding device 70 and pressing rolls 75 are carried respectively on movable heads and 51, so that they may be moved adjacent or away from the surface of roll 23.

In the operation of the machine of my prior application the fabric strip 6 from spoolSO was inserted etween the roll 23 and the previously applied wire ring a, which was stretched tightly over the two rolls. This operation was slow andpresented the danger of the operator catching his fingers, with possible serious injury, between the ring and the roll. The device forming the subject of the present application quickens this operation and avoids danger of injury, by providing a device which tucks the end of the fabric into the bight of the roll and wire. Preferably this device maintains its engagement-v with the fabric strip at all times, so that it is always in readiness to act and so that it may perform the additional function of exerting a desired tension on the strip during the wrapping operation.

The device in its preferred form is carried on aswinging arm 110 pivoted at 111 to the frame 33 of the machine. The upper part of the arm is formed as a handle 112, by which the operator may move the arm and the parts carried by it from the position of Fig. 1, where it performs its function of inserting the fabric, to that of Fig. 2, where the arm rests against a stop 113 also secured to frame Secured to the arm in any suitable way is a ggi dgileekrllh of substantially U-form, having itslower surface curved as at 115 to the surfaces 102 of the roll 23. Between the two sides 116 and 117 of the U extends a pivot shaft 118 upon which rocks a small arm 119, provided with afoot 120 having a corrugated or serrate bottom. The heel portion 121 of this foot is preferably rounded. One side 116 of the U is made thick enough to permit the formation in it of a hole 122 (Fig. 5), extending slantwise through it; the hole being enlarged at the bottom as at 123 and being widened into a partially open slot 124 (Fig. 8) at the top. Through this hole slides a rod 125 bearing near its upper end a pin 126 projecting through the upper side of the slot 124. A helical spring 127 encircles the rod near its lower end, being slightly compressed between the end of the counterbore 123 and a hole 128 in the rod, into which the end of the spring is inserted. The pin 126 rests upon arm 119, and constantly presses it down with a yielding action. lVhile the mechanical details of this preferred form have been described in some detail, the form and arrangement of parts may be varied, and equivalent mechanisms substituted, within the scope of the appended claims.

Consideration of the operation of the device may be started conveniently with the parts in the positions of Figs. 1 and 7, which illustrate the action during the continuance of the covering of the wire. The fabric strip 1) runs under the heel 121 of the presscr foot 120, tilting the latter very slightly but being subjected to a steady tension due to the pressing down of foot 120 by spring 127. Passing towards the end of the guideblock, the strip begins to assume a V shape around the wire as indicated in Fig. 9. The bottom of the block is preferably cut away at 129 (Fig. 3) to permit of this. The curvature of the strip gradually increases until the full U shape is reached at about the position of Fig. 10. Further folding of the strip is accomplishedby the turning and pressingdevices and 75, whose specific form does not atfect'the present invention.

lVhen the covering of the wire is nearly complete, that is, when the leading end of the strip has been carried over both rolls 22 and 23 and has nearly reached again the bight of the wire and roll 23, the machine is stopped and the arm 110 swung into the position of Fig. 2, where it rests against stop 113 until it is necessary to feed the fabric. between the guide-block and the bight of the wire and roll, permitting the strip to be cut as at 130 (Fig. 2). During this downward swing of the arm, foot 120 slides freely over the fabric. The machine may again be run sufliciently to complete the covering of the wire, arm 110 meanwhile remaining in the lowered position of Fig. 2. The covered riiig a is then removed from the machine and an uncovered one inserted roll 22 being moved towards roll 23 to allow this.

In starting the wrapping operation after the placing of a fresh wire around the rolls,

This gives a free stretch of fabric the machine is started and arm 110 swung up into the position of Fig. 1. During this movement the foot 120 cams downwardly against the base of the guide-block and clamps the fabric strip firmly against retrograde motion in the block. The motion of the arm carries the end of the strip first to the position of Figs. 6 and 8, and then, combined with the increasing pull exerted by the wire and roll, finally into the bight of these two latter. Continued rotation of the roll will drag the strip through the guide block, which has finished its feeding function before it reaches the position of Figs. 1 and 7, and will be subjected to an even tension by the friction of the heel 121 of the presser foot.

The feeding operation with this device is performed very rapidly and with no danger to the operators fingers. The strip is at all times strung through the device, and re quires no attention until the spool 80 is exhausted. Presser foot 120 acts automatically to grip or release the material as required by the particular part of the cycle of operations which is being performed. The illustrated form of the device is giving satisfactory results in commercial production, but its design and proportion may be varied to suit individual requirements or the covering mechanism to which it is attached, the features of novelty being set forth in the following claims:

1. A wire covering machine having a plurality of rolls around which a wire ring is stretched, devices for applying acovering strip to the ring, and a device for tucking the "end of a strip into the bight between the ring and one of said rolls.

2. A wire covering machine having a plurality of rolls around which a wire ring is stretched, devices for applying a covering strip to the ring, and a device movable toward and from the bight between the ring and one of said rolls to tuck therebetween the end of a covering strip, said device havinga movable clamp past which the strip may run in the covering operation, but which cams down upon the strip to feed the same positively forward when the device is moved towards the said bight.

CHARLES H. DESAUTELS. 

